Checklist to Help with Semiannual Animal Facility Inspections

August 18, 2021

We recently released a Guide Notice discussing various flexibilities for conducting semiannual animal facility inspections. This Notice highlights an optional checklist based on the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide), designed to help Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) conduct thorough animal facility inspections. Both the Notice and the checklist strive to reduce the administrative burden on IACUCs while also ensuring that all the requirements for the Guide are met.

All About Grants Podcast – Early Stage Investigator Policy and Extensions

August 11, 2021

Take a few minutes and join us for this NIH All About Grants podcast mini-series on Early Stage Investigators (ESIs). In part 1 of this two-part conversation, we touch on NIH’s interest in supporting ESIs, who is and is not an ESI, the benefits afforded to ESIs, and more. We discuss extending one’s ESI status in part 2.

What’s New with the NIH Loan Repayment Programs: FY 2022 Applications, Anniversaries, and a New Program

August 10, 2021

Two decades ago, NIH launched a duo of loan repayment programs (LRPs) to recruit and retain qualified health professionals into research on health disparities. Now, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Health Disparities Research LRP (LRP-HDR) and Clinical Research LRP for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (LRP-IDB), we wanted to share some data, highlight a new extramural LRP, and send a reminder that the LRP application cycle opens on September 1st.

Can I Request an Extension to My ESI Period for an Event That Occurred During a Timeframe That Includes a Previous Extension?

August 3, 2021

Some investigators experience a lapse in their research or research training or experience periods of less than full-time effort during the 10-year ESI period. The NIH considers requests to extend the ESI period for reasons that can include medical concerns, disability, family care, and more. However, the ESI Extension Committee will only consider requests for events that occur within the initial 10 years from receipt of terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever date is later.

Additional Clarifications to Biosketch and Other Support Policies Now Available

August 2, 2021

Although not required until January 2022, more and more applicants and recipients are following our advice and transitioning now to the updated formats and instructions for biosketch and other support documents. As a result, we’ve received a number of requests for additional clarification to our policies. We’ve updated and added FAQs, posted clarified instructions, and adjusted our other support sample document in response.